The University of Glasgow in association with the West of Scotland KTP Centre and Scottish Enterprise will host a lunchtime networking event this Thursday, 6 November 2003 in an effort to further University partnerships with industry. It is hoped that the event will raise awareness of the benefits of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) for both academics and the business community.

The University has already initiated seven KTP projects including a partnership between its Department of Business and Management and Lorne Fisheries Ltd. and its Department of Veterinary Medicine and Moredun Scientific Ltd.

Partnerships have been developed through a range of channels including 'Dialogues', which is run out of the University's Research and Enterprise Office. The Office takes advantage of its awareness of both the education and corporate sectors to promote further understanding of how potential partnerships can be structured. Successful initiatives such as these will be explored during the lunch.

"The University is committed to knowledge transfer and this is reflected in the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects that have recently arisen. KTPs offer a tremendous amount of benefits to both the academic and the business sectors and on a wider scale can help influence the shape and future of local and national economies. The networking lunch event will enable us to look at examples of how KTPs can work successfully, and build on ideas for future projects", said Sir Muir Russell, University of Glasgow Principal

Members from the business community, University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and West of Scotland KTP will all be in attendance on Thursday. Sir Muir Russell will present a welcome address followed by talks by Dr Kevin Cullen, Director of Research and Enterprise, Dr David Brown, Centre Manager for West of Scotland KTP Centre and spokespersons from current University of Glasgow KTP Projects.

"The Dialogues project and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are key initiatives to enable the University to further its Knowledge Transfer mission. Both are exciting opportunities for the academic and business communities to develop collaborate relationships for the academic and business communities, which yield real benefits", said Dr Kevin Cullen, Director of Research & Enterprise

Dr David Brown, Centre Manager for West of Scotland KTP comments: "KTP yet again provides the proven solution for companies and academics to work together for mutual benefit. The results are dramatic and the development of the young graduate Associates is an enormous benefit to Scotland's business."

KTPs were launched by the Government during the summer of this year, and have evolved from Teaching Company Schemes (TCS). Based around a three-way relationship between a Knowledge Base partner (Higher or Further Education Institution), a company (small medium enterprise or larger business) and a KTP Associate (a recently highly qualified graduate), the aim of KTPs is to increase the number of academic-business project collaborations across the UK.

Since the West of Scotland KTP Centre was established over 100 projects have been developed between the West of Scotland's four universities and industry. Participating academic departments have ranged from engineering to bioscience and IT, financial services and food and drink companies are among those involved in the project.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

The networking event will run between 12 and 2pm at Randolph Hall. Places are limited so please book in advance by contacting Steve Arnett, Business Development Manager for Research and Enterprise Tel: 0141 330 3885 Email: s.arnett@admin.gla.ac.uk.

The Dialogues project has been established to facilitate and enhance links between the University and West of Scotland SMEs. The project has received support from Strathclyde European Partnership (ERDF from the West of Scotland Objective 2 Programme, 2000 to 2006), Scottish Enterprise, and Glasgow City Council. Further information available from Research & Enterprise Website.

For further information please contact Mike Findlay, Press Officer, University of Glasgow Tel: 0141 330 3535 or email m.findlay@admin.gla.ac.uk. More information on KTPs is available online at the KTP Website or visit the West of Scotland KTP Centre Website.

First published: 5 November 2003